West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1887-11-10
WE MET BY CHANCE.

If her -four had not become weevily !
should never have met her.
series OF accidents had been nm.
Parcntly especially arranged TO prevent
such meeting which had il occurred
would probably have Leen very com.
mon-p!ace event; it was the non-occur-
renee, taken in connection with the sub.
sequent occurrence. which made n rather
singular affair Of it.
Inc lady to whom have referred rs
"her, is still to me an "unknown
quantity" for, as though the scrie, of
accidents should be completed. | have
lost the memorandum book i'm which
some eighteen years ago, | very carefully
noted down either her name. or that of
her husband, the name of the vessel he
commanded, for he was WHALING
captain, and probably their home adj
dress; and said names have as comnletc,v
lett my memory rs has the memorandum
Dook my possession. Therefore can in
TINS story refer to the lady ONLY ms cher
or 'She, unless indeed, excused nv tho
poverty OF our own language to meet such
an emergency i borrow a title from
another, and call her Madame: this
sounds more respectful, and | will
mere is vague inpre sion upon nv
mlnd that the schooner --- hailed from
somewhere on Cape Cod, and that be-
tween the heel and toe of that boot.
shaped peninsula was, and | hore still is.
the home of my friend.
Eally in the morning of the Fourth of
July, 1870, the little tug gunboat Pa,os.
under my command, on the thirteenth
day OF a voyage from Boston TO China.
ran INTO llorta Ray, harbor of the island
oi FAyal. As soon after anchoring as
possible, |, tired and sleepy from an all
night on deck, turned i'm fora nan. from
which, an hour or so after. | was brok ON
out by messenger, who delivered a note
addressed in lady's handwritino tbns.
The Captain Of the American ma,-of
war, lIOlta Bay"
AS nearly as can remember the con.
tents OF this note were as follows:
-, DEAR SIR hope you will pardon the
nDeIy am about TO taka i'm asking OF you a
gTeaJ IaVOT, IN granting which Won will rem.
ueT most valuable AMI ever to be appreciated
hld 10 fellow -COuntTywo i'm rrent die
ttesS Can an1 will YOU len / me a d0ursievo.
Ihe steward has most carcless.y lost nino
NSrboard, and cannot obtain such an ar
y
don know what shall do for our four Is
so iul' OF weevils that cannot use it, Yours
respectfully. '''
Mrs. -, Am. whaling schooner -.
Fortunately, was the owner Of n very
good -four sieve and as matter oi
course and duty-for in my Instructions
! was charged to "rcndcr all practicable
assistance toAmcrican o vessel, I'm dist e.s''
i synt it. After breakfast / went ON
deck TO take my usual two miles constitu-
tonal and my first smoke.
J was never quite sure about having
lairly accomplished the two miles Of nv
,.S'!nt, Tor, as my Promenade was quite
limited 5'S turns were required, and /
found considerable difficulty i'm mecbani-
caIly counting correctly, at the same
TINE thinking Of other matters: but by
carrying 5fS beans in my outside pocket
ana dropping one at each terminus. / pre.
sumo THAI my reckoning was often tolcra-
bly, close.
While tramping tbs morning. NV NJ.
tention was SO taken up by the scenery.
which included mountains. pretty
white city, fishing and bumboats. that /
lost the run OF my progress altogether
Naturally ! sought out the schooner
from which the noe had come there was
no diiiiculty in identifying her: the four
or I'VE whale boats hanging at her davits
and astcrn proclaimed her vocation. and
her nationality was so plainly marked by
a large and new American ensi0n. which
in honor Of Independence Day or our mr..
riyaI was floating rom her peak.
Another point made identification very
easy and sure; excepting ourselves and
hcrthc harbOr was bare Of vessels Al
though at times quite q number Of the
plum puddings, rs the whaling schoon.
ers which 90 ont but for p single seasons
work aro called, make Of this hlrbor a
resort for the procurement Of water fruit
and provisions, and TO en- iowa "Qam. ne
is termed in whaler parlancea chatty shin
visit.
As was the case with my friend. these
schOOncrs generally agchOr well outside.
Tor many Of their crew, among whom
there IS always a large proportion Of
brand new sailors, never before used. are
apt To fancy that they need refreshments
other than those which the captain will
procure. aud they are very likely. IF at
all handy to the wharycs. TO give then.
selves liberty and obtain them. The
schooner was q fine looking craft. and IL
struck me that IL would not be bad ulan
for me 20 90 on board Of her call ON the
Madame, and offer any further assistance
IN my power This proceeded to do.
and IN a short row my gig brought me
and a bundle Of latest papers alongside
Of her. I was received by the captain
and ushercd into the cabin, where I was
presented TO his wife, my still unknown
correspondent. Thcywcrc young people,
evidently glad 60 sec me as ] was TO see
them, and we passed very pleasant two
hours
As is the custom when one goes visit
ing on board someone clso's vessel. and
too great strain upon tmthfulnoss IS
not involved mot 50 in this case, I com.